Method and apparatus for data transmission over an AC-97 protocol link

Abstract

An Audio Encoder/Decoder (AC)-97 protocol link is used for concurrent data communication between AC-97 protocol devices and non-AC-97 protocol devices. The Tag data in an AC-97 data frame is used to select specific CODECs and to determine which data time slots to ignore or accept. Since telephone voice and data communication uses only the Tag data and one other of the data frame time slots, eleven slots are available for communication using non-AC-97 protocol devices concurrent with telephony communications. Ethernet, Home Phoneline Network Alliance (HPNA), Attachment Unit Interface (AUI) are some of the data communication protocols that may be employed using embodiments of the present invention. An AC-97 data communication controller may modified with additional logic and control lines to support additional features of non-AC-97 protocol devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A data communication method within a standard AC-97 protocol link comprising the method steps of: 
       coupling non-AC-97 (protocol) encoding and decoding devices (CODECs) onto an AC-97 protocol link to an AC-97 controller, said AC-97 controller coupled to a system processor via a system bus, coupling signal data from non-AC-97 devices to said non-AC-97 CODECs;  
       receiving and decoding selected data from said signal data by said non-AC-97 CODECs and encoding said received and decoded signal data into concurrent AC-97 data frames by each CODEC receiving selected signal data; and  
       sending said selected encoded data in said concurrent AC-97 data frames via said AC-97 protocol link to said AC-97 data controller.  
     
     
       2. The data communication method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of: 
       encoding non-AC-97 data by said AC-97 controller into selected single or selected multiple sequential AC-97 data frames with modified data frame Tag bits;  
       coupling said selected AC-97 data frames concurrently to said non-AC-97 CODECs;  
       receiving, by said non-AC-97 CODECs, selected frame data from said selected single or multiple sequential AC-97 data frames in response to said Tag bits and CODEC chip indicator bits; and  
       encoding to non-AC-97 signal data said received selected frame data by said non-AC-97 CODECs and coupling said encoded signal data to said non-AC-97 devices;  
       wherein said non-AC-97 devices concurrently communicate to a system processor over said AC-97 protocol link.  
     
     
       3. The data communication method of  claim 2 , wherein said AC-97 communication controller contains interface logic circuits operable to generate additional control signals for non-AC-97 protocol devices said additional control signals not contained in said AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       4. The data communication method of  claim 2 , wherein said non-AC-97 CODECs are coupled to said AC-97 protocol link via an Audio Modem Riser (AMR) connector. 
     
     
       5. The data communication method of  claim 2 , wherein said non-AC-97 CODECs are integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to said AC-97 controller on a single card via said AC-97 protocol link. 
     
     
       6. A data communication method within a standard AC-97 protocol link comprising the method steps of: 
       coupling AC-97 and non-AC-97 (protocol) encoding and decoding devices (CODECs) onto an AC-97 protocol link to an AC-97 controller, said AC-97 controller coupled to a system processor via a system bus;  
       coupling signal data from AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs;  
       receiving and decoding selected data from said signal data by said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs and encoding said received and decoded signal data into concurrent AC-97 data frames by each CODEC receiving selected signal data; and  
       sending said selected encoded data in said concurrent AC-97 data frames via said AC-97 protocol link to said AC-97 data controller.  
     
     
       7. The data communication method of  claim 6  further comprising the steps of: 
       encoding AC-97 and non-AC-97 data by said AC-97 controller into selected single or selected multiple sequential AC-97 data frames with modified data frame Tag bits;  
       coupling said selected AC-97 data frames concurrently to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs;  
       receiving, by said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs, selected frame data from said selected single or multiple sequential AC-97 data frames in response to said Tag bits and CODEC chip indicator bits; and  
       encoding to AC-97 and non-AC-97 signal data, said received selected frame data by said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs and coupling said encoded signal data to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices;  
       wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices concurrently communicate to a system processor over said AC-97 protocol link.  
     
     
       8. The data communication method of  claim 7 , wherein said AC-97 communication controller contains interface logic circuits operable to generate additional control signals for non-AC-97 protocol devices said additional control signals not contained in said AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       9. The data communication method of  claim 7 , wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs are coupled to said AC-97 protocol link via an Audio Modem Riser (AMR) connector. 
     
     
       10. The data communication method of  claim 7 , wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs are integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to said AC-97 controller on a single card via said AC-97 protocol link. 
     
     
       11. The data communication method of  claim 2 , wherein said signal data from said non-AC-97 devices are mixed onto a single input cable, said single cable coupling to each of said non-AC-97 CODECs. 
     
     
       12. The data communication method of  claim 6 , wherein said signal data from said AC-97 and said non-AC-97 devices are mixed onto a single input cable, said single cable coupling to each of said AC-97 or non-AC-97 CODECs. 
     
     
       13. The data communication method of  claim 11 , wherein said single input cable is coupled to said non-AC-97 CODECs via an RJ11 connector. 
     
     
       14. The data communication method of  claim 12 , wherein said single input cable is coupled to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs via an RJ11 connector. 
     
     
       15. An AC-97 controller, said AC-97 controller operable to send and receive data from non-AC-97 via non-AC-97 CODECs over a standard AC-97 link using AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       16. The AC-97 controller of  claim 15 , wherein said AC-97 data frames comprise control information for said non-AC-97 device data is encoded in Tag bits in slot zero of said AC-97 data frame. 
     
     
       17. The AC-97 controller of  claim 16 , said AC-97 controller operable to send control information to non-AC-97 CODECs not in said Tag data. 
     
     
       18. The AC-97 controller of  claim 15 , wherein said AC-97 controller is operable to send AC-97 data frames to said non-AC-97 CODECs on said standard AC-97 link, said AC-97 data frames comprising data for multiple non-AC-97 devices concurrently within single ones of said AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       19. The AC-97 controller of  claim 15 , wherein said AC-97 controller is operable to send AC-97 data frames to said non-AC-97 CODECs on said standard AC-97 link, said AC-97 data frames comprising data for multiple non-AC-97 devices, said data for multiple non-AC-97 devices concurrently within single ones of said AC-97 data frames, interleaved within sequential ones of said AC-97 data frames or within a combination of single ones or interleaved sequential ones of said AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       20. An AC-97 controller, said AC-97 controller operable to send and receive data from AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices via AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs over a standard AC-97 link using AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       21. The AC-97 controller of  claim 20 , wherein said AC-97 data frames comprise control information for said AC-97 and non-AC-97 device data encoded in Tag bits in slot zero of said AC-97 data frame. 
     
     
       22. The AC-97 controller of  claim 21 , said AC-97 controller operable to send control information to AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs not in said Tag data. 
     
     
       23. The AC-97 controller of  claim 20 , wherein said AC-97 controller is operable to send AC-97 data frames to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs on said standard AC-97 link, said AC-97 data frames comprising data for multiple AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices concurrently within single ones of said AC-97 data frame. 
     
     
       24. The AC-97 controller of  claim 20 , wherein said AC-97 controller is operable to send AC-97 data frames to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs on said standard AC-97 link, said AC-97 data frames comprising data for multiple AC-97 and non-AC-97, said data for multiple AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices concurrently within single ones of said AC-97 data frames, interleaved within sequential ones of said AC-97 data frames or within a combination of single ones or interleaved sequential ones of said AC-97 data frames. 
     
     
       25. A data communication system using an AC-97 protocol link comprising: 
       an AC-97 protocol controller, said AC-97 protocol controller operable to send and receive non-standard AC-97 data frames over an AC-97 protocol link;  
       non-AC-97 protocol encoder and decoder (CODEC) devices coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via said AC-97 protocol link, said CODEC devices operable to receive compatible selected data from AC-97 data frames in response to Tag bits and chip identification (ID) bits and operable to receive compatible selected signal data from non-AC-97 devices; and  
       non-AC-97 protocol devices coupled to said non-AC-97 CODECs,  
       wherein said non-AC-97 protocol devices concurrently communicate to a system processor over said AC-97 protocol link.  
     
     
       26. The data communication system of  claim 25 , wherein said non-AC-97 protocol devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via an Audio Modem Riser (AMR) card. 
     
     
       27. The data communication system of  claim 25 , wherein said AC-97 protocol controller contains interface logic circuits operable to generate additional control signals for non-AC-97 protocol devices said additional control signals not contained in said data frame. 
     
     
       28. The data communication system of  claim 25 , wherein said non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller with connectors on said AMR card. 
     
     
       29. The data communication method of  claim 25 , wherein non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller on a single card via an AC-97 protocol link. 
     
     
       30. A data communication system using an AC-97 protocol link comprising: 
       an AC-97 protocol controller, said AC-97 protocol controller operable to send and receive non-standard AC-97 data frames over an AC-97 protocol link,  
       AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol encoder and decoder (CODEC) devices coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via said AC-97 protocol link, said CODEC devices operable to receive compatible selected data from AC-97 data frames in response to Tag bits and chip identification (ID) bits and operable to receive compatible selected signal data from AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices, and  
       AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices coupled to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs,  
       wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices concurrently communicate to a system processor over an AC-97 protocol link.  
     
     
       31. The data communication system of  claim 30 , wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via an Audio Modem Riser (AMR) card. 
     
     
       32. The data communication system of  claim 30 , wherein said AC-97 protocol controller contains interface logic circuits operable to generate additional control signals for AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices said additional control signals not contained in said data frame. 
     
     
       33. The data communication system of  claim 30 , wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller with connectors on said AMR card. 
     
     
       34. The data communication system of  claim 30 , wherein AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller on a single card via an AC-97 protocol link. 
     
     
       35. A data processing system, comprising: 
       a central processing unit (CPU);  
       shared random access memory (RAM);  
       read only memory (ROM);  
       an I/O adapter;  
       a display adapter;  
       a display;  
       a user interface adapter; and  
       a data communication system coupling AC-97 protocol devices and non-AC-97 protocol devices, said data communication system comprising:  
       an AC-97 protocol controller, said AC-97 protocol controller operable to send and receive non-standard AC-97 data frames over an AC-97 protocol link;  
       non-AC-97 protocol encoder and decoder (CODEC) devices coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via said AC-97 protocol link, said CODEC devices operable to receive compatible selected data from AC-97 data frames in response to Tag bits and chip identification (ID) bits and operable to receive compatible selected signal data from non-AC-97 devices; and  
       non-AC-97 protocol devices coupled to said non-AC-97 CODECs,  
       wherein said non-AC-97 protocol devices concurrently communicate to a system processor over an AC-97 protocol link.  
     
     
       36. The data processing system of  claim 35 , wherein said non-AC-97 protocol devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via an Audio Modem Riser (AMR) card. 
     
     
       37. The data processing system of  claim 35 , wherein said AC-97 protocol controller contains interface logic circuits operable to generate additional control signals for non-AC-97 protocol devices said additional control signals not contained in said data frame. 
     
     
       38. The data processing system of  claim 35 , wherein said non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller with connectors on said AMR card. 
     
     
       39. The data processing system of  claim 35 , wherein non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller on a single card via an AC-97 protocol link. 
     
     
       40. A data processing system, comprising: 
       a central processing unit (CPU);  
       shared random access memory (RAM);  
       read only memory (ROM);  
       an I/O adapter;  
       a display adapter;  
       a display;  
       a user interface adapter; and  
       a data communication system coupling AC-97 protocol devices and non-AC-97 protocol devices, said data communication system comprising:  
       an AC-97 protocol controller, said AC-97 protocol controller operable to send and receive non-standard AC-97 data frames over an AC-97 protocol link;  
       AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol encoder and decoder (CODEC) devices coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via said AC-97 protocol link, said CODEC devices operable to receive compatible selected data from AC-97 data frames in response to Tag bits and chip identification (ID) bits and operable to receive compatible selected signal data from AC-97 and non-AC-97 devices; and  
       AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices coupled to said AC-97 and non-AC-97 CODECs,  
       wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices concurrently communicate to a system processor over an AC-97 protocol link.  
     
     
       41. The data processing system of  claim 24 , wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller via an Audio Modem Riser (AMR) card. 
     
     
       42. The data processing system of  claim 24 , wherein said AC-97 protocol controller contains interface logic circuits operable to generate additional control signals for AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol devices said additional control signals not contained in said data frame. 
     
     
       43. The data processing system of  claim 8 , wherein said AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller with connectors on said AMR card. 
     
     
       44. The data processing system of  claim 8 , wherein AC-97 and non-AC-97 protocol CODEC devices are integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to said AC-97 protocol controller on a single card via an AC-97 protocol link.